YOUR NEWS!

Oxfordshire ClimateXchange
YOUR NEWS! >>

Oxfordshire ClimateXchange update #36 – June ‘08

The latest news and upcoming events from ClimateXchange. Also available on www.climatex.org 

Welcome to the summer (did I say that?)! This bumper update contains events, some news, a launch for i-measure – the carbon measuring tool developed here at ECI – and even some jobs!  

Please send any items for the next update by 27^th June –events, reviews, funky websites…all welcome to info@climatex.org.

***

ClimateXchange update

We’ve got enough funding to continue for the next year – a big thank you to our funders, which include Artists Project Earth, Fund for Environment and Urban Life and an anonymous trust. We’ll shortly be releasing our report from ClimateXchange phase 1, and are working on the plan for the next 12 months. Our main focus points will be supporting and enabling the community groups to continue and build up on their fine work, and eco-renovation.

IN THE NEWS

Arctic sea ice continues record seasonal decline.
Scientists monitoring sea ice extent in the Arctic are reporting that once again, sea ice is declining at increased rates. While the sea ice extent for May 2008 is a little above the extent for 2007, it is below the 20-year average, and the rate of decline this year is greater rate than in 2007. For more information and analysis, go to http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/index.html.

**

LOCAL GROUPS NEWS

Oil your chains – there are heaps of community events coming up in the next couple of weeks. And if you haven’t yet made plans for June 21^st – look no further. You could visit Kirtlington’s Footprint Fayre, North Leigh’s Green Fayre, Charlbury’s riverside festival and end up in a record breaking hug a wind turbine at Westmill wind farm…

** If anyone would like to manage a stall with info and resources for ClimateX please get in touch – we can offer some recompense for your time **

**

Hats off to FARINGDON ECO-WEEK www.ecoweek.info for a spectacular amount of events coming up in the next week. See events below for further info – but some highlights are the ECOFAIR and SWAPSHOP on 14^th June, the Ecotrail of eco-renovated houses, Mark Dowd speaking on Americans and Global Warming: From Denial to Grudging Acceptance. Westmill Windfarm’s first public open Day on Sat 21^st – featuring a WORLD RECORD TURBINE-HUGGING ATTEMPT AT 2PM! If any group would like a stall at the open day, contact them via www.ecoweek.info .

SUSTAINABLE KIRTLINGTON’S ‘FOOTPRINT FAIR’

Get yourselves to Kirtlington’s Village Fête with a difference: a ‘Footprint Fair’ on Saturday 21 June, 2-5pm on the Sports Field and in the Village Hall.

Including a dog show with novelty classes; pony-rides; fancy-dress competition (with a green theme); stalls, games and activities for all ages; a chance to practise your skills at golf, cricket, football and archery; demonstrations of local crafts; information on energy-saving and environmentally friendly products; an art exhibition; swap-shop; plant, produce and cake stalls; teas, coffees and ice-cream; and a raffle with numerous prizes. Profits from the event will go towards energy-efficiency measures in Kirtlington Village Hall. Further information: Celia Hawkesworth, 01869 350304, chawkesworth@onetel.com

NORTH LEIGH GREEN FAIR

Saturday 21st June Cuckamus Green, North Leigh, 10 am to 4 pm. Get inspiration about local action from Challenge North Leigh, plus a host of stalls in and info.

SUSTAINABLE CHARLBURY are putting on a display at the Charlbury Riverside Festival on 21st/22nd June

WIND TURBINE FOR DEDDINGTON? See the latest on Deddington’s plans for a wind turbine – a great and inspiring presentation: http://www.deddington.org.uk/community/turbineatparishmtg.pdf

…a future contender for the next record breaking ‘hug a turbine’ event perhaps?

****

Summertime…and the heating is easy…so lets get measuring with iMeasure!

Researchers at ECI have developed iMeasure so you can find out how your energy use varies over time, and they can research domestic carbon behaviour. We need to recruit 1,000 users to measure their electricity and gas in June. Eco-St have kindly offered £20 to spend on eco-goodies as an incentive – so please sign up at www.imeasure.org.uk .

**

Introducing…. ‘It must be green’

It Must Be Green sell environmentally friendly products to help towards a sustainable future. They offer more environmental alternatives to everyday products such as torches & radios, eco gifts & gadgets, and local and recycled items. They have tried every single product that we sell - and if we don't like it, we won't sell it. It’s as simple as that! Check the website: www.itmustbegreen.co.uk

**

NEW REPORT: The climate of the UK and recent trends

The climate of the United Kingdom and recent trends is the first in a series of reports under the umbrella of the UK 21st Century Climate Change Scenarios (known as UKCIP08). This new report from UKCIP provides a valuable source of information, stimulating better understanding of how the UK’s climate affects our everyday lives. View it online at www.ukcip.org.uk 

**

THE RETURN OF OXFORDSHIRE OPEN ECO-HOMES!

Due to the success of last years Open Eco-Houses, we’ll be running another event this year from 11 – 14 September, to coincide with the Civic Trust Heritage Open Days. If you’ve got an eco-renovated home, or know someone who has, contact info@climatex.org and we can send full details of how to get involved.

The draft Oxfordshire Eco-renovation Suppliers directory is available online at: http://ecovation.org.uk/images/OxfshireEcorenovationDirectory.pdf 

**

BIKE WEEK

Cyclox – the cycling campaign for Oxford, have a host of rides organised for National Bike Week – 16 – 22^nd June. Tour D’art, History of Cycling on Oxford..They’ve also just launched their new film ‘Bikes and Buses’

Bike Week info plus a link to the video can all be found on www.cyclox.org.

 ‘Better to arrive 20 minutes late in this life than 20 years early in the next’ Quite.

JOBS -  a new section for this month

1. Goldenfuels is looking for a new member
Goldenfuels is a worker co-operative that is looking for a practically minded man or woman to join our team producing Biodiesel in Oxfordshire for Oxfordshire. Founded in 2003, we are an ethical not-for-profit, using only locally sourced waste oil. For more details see: www.goldenfuels.com/biodiesel/job Closing date: Friday 20th June

2. Fresh Air Theatre:

"fresh air theatre creates original work to explore important issues
such as climate change and social justice. We are currently looking for
performers/devisers who have a strong visual interest and would like to
be part of the process of developing a company and its audience. Please
visit www.freshairtheatre.co.uk or email contact@freshairtheatre.co.uk "

3. ECO-St requires Sales Supervisor at Yarnton Nurseries
This full time position allows you to make a difference to the environment while working. This is a friendly, customer orientated business where you would be demonstrating and selling products that help people reduce their carbon footprint and benefit the environment.

If you have previously held a role as a sales supervisor in a shop before and are interested please apply now. email Howard on: yarntonshop@eco-st.com
 

PLANET EARTH SEASON: Oxfordshire, September – December 2008

Are you planning an event in Oxfordshire, between September-December this year, connected to climate change, sustainable living, nature or the environment? Oxford Inspires is collecting information to promote Oxfordshire’s Planet Earth Season, which will take place from September to December 2008. To get your event included in the brochure please get your ideas and info to Liz Gresham by 16^th June  planetearth@oxfordinspires.org / 01865 815 525

NEW WEBSITES:

Scoodi, is a new Oxford based web start-up which brings web2.0 tools to the Freecycle crowd. The Scoodi website connects you with your neighbours and local community so that you can find a new home for all the stuff you don’t need any more. Content is presented in a clear and uncluttered style and, their “act-local technology” finds all the relevant content around where you live.

As a local Scoodi community grows, you will see a large list of stuff evolve. We like to call this “community inventory”. You get to use something for as long as you need it, then you put it back into circulation. It is a far more efficient way to use our natural resources. The items listed on Scoodi are like a community asset. The more stuff we list, the more people we help out and the less new stuff we have to make. Scoodi is provided as a free community service. www.scoodi.com/local/oxford 

Also take a look at these and tell us what you think:

http://www.preventclimatechange.co.uk/  

http://www.climatediet.com/ 

**

YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE

Dr Corina Höppner, a researcher at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at Oxford University is looking at how citizens engage in climate change issues – and would like to speak to people about their connection with environmental issues and particularly climate change in a broad sense. If you’re reading this – then that means you! It would be great if you are able to spare 35mins to take part in a short interview. If you’ve any questions, please contact her: corina.hoppner@ouce.ox.ac.uk  / 01865 275864 .

Anonymity is, of course, guaranteed

**

UPCOMING CLIMATE CHANGE EVENTS - June/ July  

Full details available on www.climatex.org/events 

**

Sat 14^th June – Faringdon EcoWeek

EcoFair, EcoTrail, EcoSwap Shop – see detailed info on www.ecoweek.info 

Sun 15^th June – Eco-Church and Eco-Mill

Faringdon Eco-Week , see detailed info on www.ecoweek.info

Tues 17^th June– EcoPlasma, EcoFilm see detailed info on www.ecoweek.info

Weds 18^th June – EcoRoof, EcoTour - see detailed info on www.ecoweek.info

Thurs 19^th June Ecomusic, EcoTalk with Mark Dowd

see detailed info on www.ecoweek.info

Fri 20^th June – EcoBirds - see detailed info on www.ecoweek.info

Friday 20th June Critical Mass ride, and film: Cyclovía in Bogotá

First, experience cycling when bicycles dominate the road! Then, see what happens when a city closes its roads to motor vehicles.

5:30 pm Broad Street 3 miles 1–2 hours

Sat 21^st June– Ecobikes, Ecowalks, Ecofarms, Ecobutties, Ecowind and Ecoworld – Open Day at Westmill Wind Farm with world record attempt see detailed info on www.ecoweek.info

Sat 21^st June – Kirtlington Footprint Fair – see details above

Sat 21^st June – North Leigh Green Fair – see info above

Sat 21^st June - 12 - 4 pm OXFORDSHIRE GOES WILD
FREE fun for the family at Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Bring the kids to find out a the wild side of life – organised by Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum

Weds 25th June - 6.30 - 9pm Transition Oxford Gathering. Friends Meeting House, St Giles, Oxford

Find out the latest and meet others involved in Transition Oxford. email transitionoxford@gmail.com / see www.transitionoxford.org.uk for further info

Sun 22^nd June Ecorest?

***

For further info and to get involved, contact info@climatex.org

Email upcoming events to info@climatex.org 

Subscribe to this update by sending a blank email to: climatex-subscribe@climatex.org

Jo Hamilton
ClimateXChange Coordinator

Environmental Change Institute
Oxford University Centre for the Environment
Dyson Perrins Building
South Parks Rd
Oxford OX1 3QY

t: 01865 275 856
e: jo.hamilton@ouce.ox.ac.uk
www.climatex.org

See our latest update: www.climatex.org/whats-new/

Subscribe to our fortnightly email updates : send a blank email to: climatex-subscribe@climatex.org